independent Cornish news and comment

The Boys are Back in Town

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY live ate The Keay Theatre, Saturday 23rd June, 2hour standing event with full bar. Box Office 01726 226777


In keeping with the current voracious appetite for all things 70’s and 80’s, Thin Lizzy are finding themselves back in the public eye. Frontman Philip Lynott, who caused a stir by marrying 70’s game show personality Leslie Crowther's daughter, was, more importantly, responsible for penning the perennial radio favourite “The Boys Are Back In Town”, the bands biggest hit.

Add this to the arsenal of chart busting hits that include ‘Sarah’, 'Dancing In The Moonlight', ‘Whisky In The Jar’, 'Out In The Fields', 'Parisienne Walkways' 'Don't Believe A Word', and 'Jailbreak', and you'll have recalled a genre-defying pop/rock legend in Phillip Lynott and his band that both precursed and influenced-by-admission the likes of Bon Jovi, Guns 'n' Roses, U2 and even current pop rockers The Darkness, by decades. This has been further galvanized by the recent (June 2004) release of the third ‘Greatest Hits’ package which was immediately embraced as Radio 2’s ‘gold album of the week’ and peaked in the nations pop-consciousness at number three in the album charts.

Limehouse Lizzy, who have been presenting a stirring and detailed tribute to Thin Lizzy for the past eleven years, are currently riding the wave of this post-Lizzy renaissance. This year, public demand has seen them repeat the previous years successful ‘Live & Dangerous’ live album 25th Anniversary tour, whilst 2005 holds the prospect of ‘Dedication: The Greatest Hits Of Philip Lynott & Thin Lizzy’ in readiness to spring upon their inherited-from-the original loyal following (now 30, 40 and 50-something respectable citizens).

Thin Lizzy, with the help of their unmistakable charismatic frontman Philip Lynott, dominated the story of Irish rock in the 1970s and laid the foundations for the massive achievements of many contemporary Irish acts. Their influence can be detected in everything from U2 to The Corrs and, such was the range and genre-defining power of Lynott and his colleagues, they came to shape much of the output of Irish musicians over succeeding decades.

Acknowledged today as an influence by many a contemporary artist, Lynott himself is slowly, but surely, becoming recognized for the tremendous impact he made on his art. Is often difficult and arduous journey as he battled with both racism and his own internal demons is one that cannot fail to move, especially in view of his tragically early death in 1986. Yet it would be wholly wrong to see the story of his, often tempestuous life, in negative terms. The breathtaking heights to which he took his music is something that continues to inspire and enthrall all who hear it.

This superb legacy, cherished and celebrated by Limehouse Lizzy with genuine enthusiasm, helps to explain much of their current success.

Since their formation, Limehouse Lizzy have gained a tremendous, and ever-growing, following. Their current fan base has a mailing list which stands at over 6000 and they are approaching 100,000 hits on their website www.limehouselizzy.co.uk at the time of writing. This informative site is open to all fans and prospective fans. It features news, photo galleries, up-to-the-minute tour info and other merchandise. Their use of the web has allowed them to reach ever-greater number of Thin Lizzy fans who warm to the tribute band's obvious love and respect for the original material. Now with a reputation as one of the hardest-working and most exciting live acts anywhere, Limehouse Lizzy remain extremely busy gigging up, down, in and out of the country; Precursing the ‘Live & Dangerous’ event, 2002's 'Dancing In The Moonlight' tour followed on from what has been described as the "phenomenal" success of their 'Live Killers' 2000 tour. Both tours saw gigs being held in Eire, the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. They also featured on the BBC's documentary "Inside Track", their growing following and global success having attracted the attention of “Auntie Beeb.”